AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL: Princeton wins a pair to stay alive in playoff hunt

By CODY EXTER, For The Trentonian

Monday, July 15, 2013

ROBBINSVILLE — In the 24-year history of Princeton Post 218, no team has ever been able to finish in the top six of the Mercer County American Legion League, and thus qualify for the District Tournament. However, Jacob Eisenberg and the rest of the 2013 Princeton club are hoping their team can be the first.

Before Eisenberg could take the mound Monday night at Robbinsville High School, Princeton and Robbinsville had unfinished business to settle.

The two teams needed to finish a game that had been postponed last Tuesday due to weather. The game resumed in the bottom of the fifth with Princeton trailing, 3-2 with runners in scoring position. Princeton rallied for two runs and won the game, 4-3.

Then it was Eisenberg’s show. In the second part of the quasi doubleheader, Eisenberg pitched a complete game, and surrendered only one earned run as Princeton cruised by Robbinsville 10-3. The lefthander fanned six Robbinsville batters and allowed four hits over seven innings of work.

Princeton jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first frame, and provided Eisenberg the cushion he needed to find his control.

“I was missing my spots a bit at the beginning,” Eisenberg said. “I just kept battling though, and I was eventually able to pound the zone.”

Once he found the zone, Eisenberg utilized his off-speed pitches to keep batters guessing.

The Princeton bats stayed hot throughout the game and tallied 16 hits on the evening. First basemen Jay Barry had a spectacular night at the dish and finished 3 for 3 with a double in the seventh.

Ellis Bloom also swung the bat well for Princeton. The third basemen was 3 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

After a number of changes to its lineup, Robbinsville got some momentum going in the bottom of the seventh and loaded the bases with one out.

“I was definitely getting tired at that point,” Eisenberg said of Robbinsville’s late-game push. “The lead was definitely helpful, it took some of the pressure off. I just had to keep throwing strikes, and I knew our defense would play really well behind me.”

With the two wins Monday night, Princeton improved to 11-10 on the season, and the team has set itself up for a final playoff push.

“We will probably need to win out,” Eisenberg said of his team’s opportunity for a playoff berth. “We needed these wins today.”

Eisenberg and the rest of the Princeton team are well aware of the significance of their success.

“We have the chance to make history,” he said. “It’s something we are all really excited about.”